Iowa is on a short list of six states being considered for potential locations as part of a national network of bioindustrial manufacturing pilot facilities, which would represent a minimum $25 million investment for Iowa if selected, according to a March 13 announcement from BioIndustrial Manufacturing and Design Ecosystem (BioMADE).

BioMADE is a nonprofit created by the Engineering Biology Research Consortium. In 2020, the organization received an $87 million, seven-year award from the U.S. Department of Defense and was named a Bioindustrial Manufacturing Innovation Institute to work with public and private entities to advance bioindustrial manufacturing technologies.

Bioindustrial manufacturing uses biology to convert agricultural feedstocks and waste streams to high-value chemicals, materials, and other defense and industrial base products. It can create products like cement, fire-resistant materials, durable fibers, bioplastics and food products.

In a response to questions regarding possible discussions with BioMADE, an Iowa Economic Development Authority spokesperson declined to comment on whether the agency is in talks with the organization because “negotiations or an application that may or may not be under discussion” are treated as confidential until projects are approved by the IEDA board.

However, the agency shared the following statement with the Business Record on the effect a biomanufacturing facility would have on the state if Iowa is selected for the project.

“Many of the industrial facilities around the state that currently produce food and fuel products from corn, soybeans and other renewable products also produce certain co-products that can be processed into higher-value basic chemical compounds. These compounds can be further processed into end-use consumer products,” the statement said. “The extensive work in renewable chemicals derived from agricultural byproducts that takes place every day through the state’s research institutions and numerous companies already demonstrates the investment and importance of this industry to our economy and ultimately makes Iowa an attractive place for companies in this sector to do business. The establishment of additional bioprocessing facilities in our state further cements our preeminence in the bioscience and manufacturing sectors and positions Iowa as a hub for innovation.”

According to the announcement, BioMADE’s proposed facilities network would help address a gap in domestic pilot- and intermediate-scale bioindustrial manufacturing infrastructure by providing American companies space to scale products and technologies from the laboratory to commercial production domestically.

BioMADE is working to build a domestic end-to-end bioindustrial manufacturing ecosystem that would retain American research and development efforts, secure a domestic supply chain and resupply U.S. manufacturing jobs, the news release said.

The other states under consideration for a pilot facility are California, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana and North Carolina.

According to BioMADE, the organization could move forward with selecting one or more states to locate pilot facilities in or opt to select none. For any states selected, BioMADE would establish one facility and consider further development based on broader economic development models. The organization aims to develop a network of 12-15 facilities nationwide.

“We are treating each state on an individual basis to evaluate what they could offer in establishing a biomanufacturing pilot facility,” BioMADE said in a statement to the Business Record.

In 2023, BioMADE announced Minnesota, where the nonprofit is headquartered, as the site of the first facility in the national network.

BioMADE said in the statement that the minimum capital investment in its pilot facilities would be around $25 million. The nonprofit is holding meetings in each state with stakeholders in state and local government, higher education and companies, and will use their input to help determine “the right capabilities for a facility within their state” and the level of capital investment BioMADE will make.

“For the Minnesota site, we are expecting a capital investment of over $100 million coming from a combination of federal and state funds,” the statement said. “However, as we look to the BioMADE pilot plant network beyond Minnesota, a minimum investment in a facility would be about $25 million, but could be significantly higher based on future decisions.”

The release said meetings with stakeholders will also help BioMADE evaluate each state on factors such as the innovation ecosystem, market need, feedstock availability, education and workforce availability and training, access to highway, rail and air transportation, and fit with regional development objectives and incentives.

The organization also plans to hear from its members in each state, which represent a spectrum of industry, education and workforce development, trade and research associations, and venture capital firms. A full list of BioMADE’s more than 275 members is available here.

There is not a fixed timeline on when any selections will be announced, BioMADE said, but it is “moving expeditiously to develop key partnerships.”